Climbing figure toy



July 23, 1968 c. SALVADOR CLIMBING FIGURE TOY Filed June 1'7, 1966 INVENTOR. CHRMELO .5HLVADOR BY 9,.(444447 HTTOAIUEX United States Patent 3,393,470 CLIMBING FIGURE TOY Carmelo Salvador, 2926 Royal Palm Ave., Miami Beach, Fla. 33140 Filed June 17, 1966, Ser. No. 558,315 10 Claims. (Cl. 46-132) This invention relates to an amusement device, and, more particularly, to an amusement device which includes a figurine movable up and down the device in a predetermined path.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement device which includes a tree type member and a figurine in th shape of a monkey which is arranged for movement up and down a predetermined path of the tree on movement of a driving means so that the monkey appears to climb up and slide down the tree.

It is another object of this invention to provide an amusement device of the type described and claimed hereinafter which is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which is otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which it is intended.

In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with referance to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a left side elevation view of the instant device;

FIGURE 2 is a right side elevation view of the instant device;

FIGURE 3 is a partial rear elevation view of the instant device;

FIGURE 4 is a partial view similar to a portion of FIGURE 2 and indicating the movable figurine in a corresponding position relative to the tree as seen in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view in cross section taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a view in cross section taken along the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, and referring particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral 11 generally designates the amusement device which is seen to include a tree 12 and a figurine 14 which is movable with respect to the tree by reason of drive means generally designated by the numeral 16 which wind a string 18 around a drum at one end and at the other end 20 connects, after passage over a roller 22, to the figurine so that by winding the drive means 16 the figurine may be lifted up as indicated in FIG. 1 and then released so that it will fall back down by weight of gravity pulling the string with it as it unwinds from the drum by reason of the weight of the figurine.

Referring to the tree 12, it is seen that it includes a standard or trunk portion 24 and a base portion 26. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the trunk includes an elongate guide slot 28 along the longitudinal length thereof for guiding movement of the figurine. Also, on the exterior surface of the trunk an undulate or waveform verticallyprogressing cam surface 32 is provided for a purpose which will be apparent hereinafter, it being noted at this point that the cam surface generally faces rearwardly or in the direction in which the figurine faces. The cam surface extends substantially along the length of the trunk terminating at points 34 and 36 which are spaced inwardly from the upper and lower ends respectively of the trunk. At the upper terminus of the cam surface an arcuate guide roof member 40 is provided for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter and at the lower end, a one-way gate 42 is pivotally connected as on the pivot means 44 to swing rearwardly so that a roller which will be referred to hereinafter may pass into the pocket 46 and a period of rest and the one-way gate will swing back to the normal position shown in FIG. 1, in which position it is constrained to one-way movement of rotation by reason of the distal hook portion 48 at the upper extremity of the bite of the pocket 46. A tilt means or projection to guide the figurine into a tilt attitude at the lower end of the trunk is provided, the said tilt means being indicated by the numeral 50'.

Referring now to the figurine 14, it is seen to comprise a weighted member 52 which, as seen in FIG. 5, is sized for slidable relation within the longitudinally extending guide slot of the tree. Bridge means 54 are provided to connect the weighted portion to a pair of pivotally connected links 56 and 58 respectively which comprise arms for the figurine and which include a figurine body 60 which is pivotally connected to the other ends of the links 62 and 64 respectively by the indicated pivot pin means. Also, the upper end of one of the links in a hand simulated postion is provided with a cam-type roller 66 which is constrained on winding of the drive means 16 to undulating movement in and out as the cam follower 66 travels along the undulating path 32. It will be seen that this motion will also cause the figurine to alternately tip forwardly and rearwardly by reason of the wave-like undulation which in turn will simulate a climbing movement of the figurine to be transmitted to the pivot means 64 to the lower links or legs 58. The upward movement of the figurine on manipulation of the drive means 16 will cause the figurine to appear to climb the tree until such time as the cam follower 66 reaches the upper terminus 34 and by reason of the guide means 40 is directed to the outer or forwardly facing straight cam surface, which is seen in the dotted line upper position of the figurine in FIG. 1, so that the figurine will appear to move or slide down the tree With accelerating speed .until such time as the lower body portion of the figurine reaches the position shown in FIG. 1 and by reason of the guide means 38 is tilted so that the roller 66 passes the one-way gate 42 and is trapped in the pocket 46. It will be seen that the device is then ready for use again in causing the monkey-type figurine to climb the tree. The string 18 is wound around the drum 72 which is provided within the base 26 and connected to the exterior drive handle 74 through a suitable opening 76 in the side Wall of the housing or base. The string, it will be seen on reference to FIG. 3, is guided preferably through a longitudinally-extending tube 76 on one side of the tree which leads from the drum to the roller 22. In this fashion, when the figurine is caused to climb up the tree, the string is snarl-free in operation. The string is, in operation, wound around the drum until the figurine reaches the upper stop or guide 40 at which point further rotation of the drum will have no effect; however, as soon as it is released the figurine will slide down the trunk of the tree and the drum will unwind and release the string ready for another manipulation of the device.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising:

a tree;

a figurine slidably captivated on the tree for vertical movement therealong;

said figurine including a weighted portion, a body portion spaced laterally from the weighted portion on the exterior of the tree and link means to pivotally connect the portions; primary means slidably and mutually inter-connecting the weighted portion of the figurine to the tree for primary vertical movement of the figurine therealong;

drive means connecting the weighted portion and the tree to move the figurine vertically up the tree for downward movement along the tree under the influence of gravity; secondary guide means mutually inter-connecting the tree and link means of the figurine to guide the body portion of the figurine on vertical movement in a pattern of secondary movement of displacement with respect to a vertical line, said guide means including an undulated vertically-progressing path on the tree and a straight vertical path on the tree, and follower means on the link means constrained to movement in engagement With the paths, said paths extending a common vertical distance in side-by-side relation;

stop means at the upper end of the tree to limit vertical upward movement of the figurine along the undulated path;

trap means at the lower end of the tree to catch the figurine and limit downward movement of the figurine with respect to the tree;

switch means at the upper end of the undulating path to switch the follower means of the figurine from the undulating path to the straight path;

and one-way switch means at the lower end of the undulated path to guide the figurine into the trap means in position for movement along the undulated path under the influence of said drive means;

said undulated path, straight path and switch means at the upper end and one-way switch means at the lower end defining a closed circuit for travel of the figurine.

2. A amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link means comprise an upper path of arm members and a lower path of leg members, each member of each path having a diverging portion simulating forearms or calf and feet portions.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said primary means includes a guide slot longitudinally extending lengthwise along the tree and said weighted portion being sized for slidable movement in said guide slot.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said weighted portion includes a bridge element carried exteriorly of the tree and having a first end on one side of the tree and a second end on the other side of said tree and said links being pivotally connected to said element.

5. A device as set forth in' claim 2 wherein .said weighted portion includes a bridge element carried exteriorly of the tree and having a first end on one side of the tree and a second end on the other side of said tree and said links being pivotally connected to said element.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tree includes a base portion adapted to rest on a surface to support the tree in vertical upstanding relation.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the said base portion includes a drum rotatably journalled in said base and operable exteriorly of said base and flexible string means connect the drum to the Weight portion of the figurine; and roller means supported on the tree above said stop means, said roller means at all times supporting said string intermediate the ends thereof.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tree includes a closed guide tubular member for snag free passage of the string means therethrough on rotation of said drum.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch means at the upper end of the undulating path comprises a roof member overlaying the undulated path and spaced vertically therefrom in parallel relation to a portion of the length of said undulating path and having a portion extending vertically over said vertical path.

10. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trap means comprises a pocket to receive and nestle said follower means and said one-way switch means comprising a swingable gate member on the tree to swing between a normal closed position on one side of the pocket and at the bottom of the straight path and a second position to open the pocket and permit passage of the follower thereinto on application of pressure on the gate by the follower and to normally return to the first position, said gate in the normal position comprising an extension of said undulating path; and tilt means on the tree to tilt the figurine at the lower end of the vertical path so that the follower will apply pressure and open the gate and gravity forces will nestle the follower in the pocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,854 10/ 1896 Kenny 40106.31 1,560,945 11/1925 Secrest 46--132 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 69,577 1893 Germany.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

S. NATTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE COMPRISING: A TREE; A FIGURINE SLIDABLY CAPTIVATED ON THE TREE FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREALONG; SAID FIGURINE INCLUDING A WEIGHTED PORTION, A BODY PORTION SPACED LATERALLY FROM THE WEIGHTED PORTION ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE TREE AND LINK MEANS TO PIVOTALLY CONNECT THE PORTIONS; PRIMARY MEANS SLIDABLY AND MUTUALLY INTER-CONNECTING THE WEIGHTED PORTION OF THE FIGURINE TO THE TREE FOR PRIMARY VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE FIGURING THEREALONG; DRIVE MEANS CONNECTING THE WEIGHTED PORTION AND THE TREE TO MOVE THE FIGURINE VERTICALLY UP THE TREE FOR DOWNWARDLY MOVEMENT ALONG THE TREE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GRAVITY; SECONDARY GUIDE MEANS MUTUALLY INTER-CONNECTING THE TREE AND LINK MEANS OF THE FIGURINE TO GUIDE THE BODY PORTION OF THE FIGURINE ON VERTICAL MOVEMENT IN A PATTERNOF SECONDARY MOVEMENT OF DISPLACEMENT WITH RESPECT TO A VERTICAL LINE, AND GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING AN UNDULATED VERTICALLY-PROGRESSING PATH ON THE TREE AND A STRAIGHT VERTICAL PATH ON THE TREE, AND FOLLOWER MEANS ON THE LINK MEANS CONSTRAINED TO MOVEMENT IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PATHS, SAID PATHS EXTENDING COMMON VERTICAL DISTANCE IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION; STOP MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF THE TREE TO LIMIT VERTICAL UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FIGURINE ALONG THE UNDULATED PATH; TRAP MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF THE TREE TO CATCH THE FIGURINE AND LIMIT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FIGURINE WITH RESPECT TO THE TREE; SWITCH MEANS AT THE UPPER END OF THE UNDULATING PATH TO SWITCH THE FOLLOWER MEANS OF THE FIGURINE FROM THE UNDULATING PATH TO THE STRAIGHT PATH; AND ONE-WAY SWITCH MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF THE UNDULATED PATH TO GUIDE THE FIGURINE INTO THE TRAP MEANS IN POSITION FOR MOVEMENT ALONG THE UNDULATED PATH UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SAID DRIVE MEANS; SAID UNDULATED PATH, STRAIGHT PATH AND SWITCH MEANS AT THE UPPER END AND ONE-WAY SWITCH MEANS AT THE LOWER END DEFINING A CLOSED CIRCUIT FOR TRAVEL OF THE FIGURINE. 